Two held in UNDP delegation fraud scam

ISLAMABAD:

The NCCIA has registered a case against six individuals accused of impersonating the former Governor of Punjab, Makhdoom Ahmad Mahmood, and fraudulently extorting money on the pretext of facilitating a UNDP delegation's visit. Two suspects have been arrested, while raids continue to apprehend the remaining accomplices.

Complainant Muhammad Haseeb Maqbool approached the NCCIA and reported that the suspects had posed as former Governor Makhdoom Ahmad Mahmood and falsely claimed that a UNDP delegation intended to visit Haripur district for welfare activities. Under this guise, they deceitfully extracted Rs575,000 from him, purportedly to cover the cost of a chartered flight from Lahore to Islamabad.

The inquiry revealed the involvement of two suspects from Bahawalnagar — Muhammad Nadeem and Muhammad Mazhar — who had engaged in forgery, impersonation of a former governor and other senior officials, and the fraudulent acquisition of funds. Nadeem allegedly received the money into a bank account and distributed it among his associates, including Sajid Ali, Mazhar, and others. A fraudulent SIM used in the scam was reportedly issued by an individual identified as Waseem. The investigation also uncovered links to two additional accomplices, Murtaza and Altaf.